AWARDS & RECOGNITION

We honour and celebrate women who are making waves in the global payments ecosystem. Our awards program recognizes the achievements of women who have distinguished themselves as leaders, innovators, rising stars, and consummate professionals.

Our CANADA Awards Committee, comprised of seasoned talent from across the payments industry, will review all nominations and select the recipients. These distinguished women will be honored at our 2026 CANADA Symposium.

Please note:

• EACH NOMINEE CAN ONLY BE NOMINATED FOR ONE AWARD CATEGORY, DUPLICATE NOMINATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

• A MAXIMUM OF ONE NOMINEE PER CATEGORY PER ORGANIZATION.

• SELF NOMINATIONS ARE NOT ALLOWED.

• EACH NOMINEE SUBMITTED MUST RESIDE IN THE the CANADA region.

• Individuals who have previously won in a given category are not eligible for nomination in that same category at future symposia.

CRITERIA

• Actively champions the advancement and visibility of women in leadership roles within and/or beyond their organization. Demonstrates leadership by advocating for and enabling measurable outcomes related to the hiring, promotion, retention, and sponsorship of women. Publicly recognizes and amplifies the achievements of female leaders and helps create pathways to leadership role.
• Serves as a strong advocate for gender equity across the industry, including equal pay, equal opportunity, and fair access to career progression. Actively supports or drives initiatives, policies, or structural changes that increase women’s participation, representation, and advancement at all levels of the organization or industry.
• Promotes and enables access to education, training, and professional development opportunities for women with the intent of advancing career progression and leadership readiness. Supports learning initiatives that remove systemic barriers, close skills gaps, or improve promotion and retention outcomes for women in payments and fintech.
• Is widely recognized for mentorship, sponsorship, and knowledge-sharing. Actively mentors and sponsors women by advocating for their advancement, visibility, and access to opportunities. Demonstrates how mentorship or sponsorship efforts led to tangible career outcomes such as promotions, leadership appointments, or expanded responsibilities.
• Demonstrates high ethical standards and professional integrity. Actively fosters an inclusive, respectful, and supportive environment that values diverse perspectives. Contributes to inclusive practices or policies that create equitable opportunities and measurable progress for women.

CRITERIA

• Demonstrates a strong personal commitment to improving the lives of others or strengthening communities. Takes initiative to lead, support, or participate in community, social, charitable, or nonprofit efforts—motivated by purpose rather than job requirements or formal responsibility.
• Has created a positive and tangible impact on individuals, groups, or communities. Impact may include—but is not limited to—volunteering, fundraising, nonprofit leadership, financial literacy, education, advocacy for social causes, or community building initiatives. Contributions may occur within or outside the payments industry.
• Demonstrates sustained involvement and dedication over time, rather than a one-off initiative. Shows perseverance and follow through in supporting causes or communities, even in the face of challenges, competing priorities, or change.
• Actively brings people together to amplify impact. Collaborates with peers, organizations, or community groups to advance shared goals. Inspires others through action, generosity, and leadership, encouraging participation and collective contribution.
• Acts with humility, integrity, and genuine care for others. Is recognized as someone who gives back authentically, withoutseeking recognition, and whose actions reflect strong personal values and social responsibility.

CRITERIA

• Demonstrates originality, creativity, and vision in identifying opportunities for improvement or transformation. Challenges existing approaches and takes initiative to develop new ideas, solutions, or ways of working—often beyond the expectations of her formal role.
• Applies new thinking, knowledge, or technology to solve real world challenges. Successfully translates ideas into action by designing, implementing, and refining solutions that address customer needs, operational inefficiencies, or industry gaps.
• Delivers measurable outcomes, such as improved efficiency, reduced risk or cost, enhanced customer experience, or increased revenue or adoption. Solutions demonstrate the potential to scale, be replicated, or applied across teams, functions, or organizations beyond the nominee’s immediate scope.
• Works effectively across teams and stakeholders to bring innovation to life. Encourages diverse perspectives, shares knowledge, and empowers others to innovate. Is recognized as a trusted collaborator who helps create a culture of continuous improvement.

CRITERIA

• Demonstrates a clear and compelling perspective on the future of payments. Actively contributes to current industry dialogue through thought leadership—such as speaking, writing, mentoring, or leading meaningful conversations—that shapes thinking, sparks discussion, and influences how others engage with the evolving payments ecosystem.
• Leads with authenticity and purpose, inspiring others to perform at their best during times of growth, change, or uncertainty. Encourages open dialogue, curiosity, and diverse viewpoints, creating an environment where people feel valued, heard, and motivated to grow.
• Maintains a constructive and optimistic mindset, particularly during periods of challenge, transformation, or change. Positively influences others by helping teams navigate uncertainty, embrace new ideas, and maintain momentum through setbacks.
• Builds strong, trust-based relationships and supports the growth of others through mentorship, guidance, or example. Inspires confidence and engagement, encouraging individuals to contribute positively and thoughtfully within their teams or the broader industry.

CRITERIA

• Demonstrates a strong work ethic, ambition, and commitment to excellence. Takes initiative to go beyond assigned responsibilities, actively seeks opportunities to learn and grow, and contributes ideas or actions that create value for her team, organization, or customers.
• Consistently delivers high-quality work and strong results. Collaborates effectively with others, builds trust with colleagues, peers, and/or clients, and is recognized as dependable, capable, and professional in a variety of situations.
• Demonstrates a clear trajectory for continued development and leadership. Shows adaptability, curiosity, and the ability to learn from experience. Exhibits behaviors aligned with organizational values and demonstrates readiness to take on increasing responsibility over time.
• Actively contributes to a positive, inclusive, and supportive team environment. Shares knowledge, supports peers, and leads by example regardless of title. Is recognized as someone others enjoy working with and can rely on.

CRITERIA

• Is recognized as an authority in a specific area of the payments or fintech ecosystem. Shares original, informed perspectives through public forums such as speaking engagements, published articles, research, media commentary, panels, committees, or industry working groups. Contributions demonstrate depth of expertise and go beyond promoting products, services, or organizations.
• Ideas and insights influence how others think, discuss, or act within the industry. Contributions help drive progress by shaping conversations around industry challenges, opportunities, innovation, regulation, or future trends in the Canadian and or global payments ecosystem.
• Demonstrates the ability to challenge conventional thinking, introduce new perspectives, and anticipate emerging trends. Thought leadership reflects creativity, critical thinking, and a forward-looking mindset that contributes to the evolution of the payments industry.
• Creates content or forums that educate and inform a broad audience. Encourages meaningful dialogue, debate, and knowledge-sharing that deepens understanding of complex topics and fosters informed discussion across the ecosystem.
• Builds credibility through accuracy, balance, and professionalism. Is respected for responsible influence, ethical conduct, and a commitment to elevating industry understanding. Encourages diverse perspectives and thoughtful discourse that strengthens trust in the payments industry.

CRITERIA

• Demonstrates a sustained record of achievement across her career. Has significantly influenced the evolution, direction, or maturity of the payments industry through leadership, innovation, expertise, or stewardship. Her contributions reflect long-term impact rather than isolated accomplishments.
• Has consistently contributed to the broader success and reputation of the payments industry over time. Is widely regarded as a trusted advisor, respected expert, and ambassador for the industry. Her work has strengthened the ecosystem and helped advance industry standards, practices, or understanding.
• Is known for authenticity, integrity, and principled leadership throughout her career. Has built enduring relationships across organizations and sectors, and is recognized as a role model whose values and conduct have positively influenced others and set a standard for excellence.
• Has made a meaningful and lasting impact on people and organizations through mentorship, knowledge-sharing, and leadership development. Her influence is evident in the growth of others, the cultures she has shaped, and the pathways she has created for future generations within the payments industry.